"Israel will never agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger its existence. Israel's priorities are clear: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, the release of all hostages, the elimination of Hamas in Gaza, and then an agreement [on normalization] with Saudi Arabia," Katz said.
Why it matters:
Statements from Israel's top military official, following the Gaza ceasefire and wartime conclusion, indicate that Israel is unlikely to cease its aggression, despite global hopes for lasting peace in the region.
What he's saying:
The top defense official added that "[U.S. President Donald] Trump's [Gaza] plan is the only one that can guarantee the security of Israel's residents after October 7 [2023]."
Go deeper:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Palestinians living in Gaza should be allowed to leave the enclave voluntarily if they choose to do so.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza and resettling the majority in Jordan and Egypt.
Arab states were shocked by Trump's plan, a proposal that was quickly rejected by Cairo and Amman and widely viewed across the region as highly destabilizing.
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Iran's FM Praises Arab States’ Rejection of US-Israeli Plan for Gaza
